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The Hearing Regarding a Ban on the AKP

Using Secularism as an Excuse

Turkey's secularist elite would like to prohibit the AKP and would have the world believe that the Turkish people are incapable of doing anything without the guidance of the state, ergo if the people of Turkey do anything, it can only be at the instigation of foreign enemies. A commentary by Günther Seufert
Constitutional Reform in Turkey

Entrenched Fronts

In the Turkish parliament a package of constitutional and statutory amendments is currently under discussion. A central issue is whether the ban on wearing headscarves at the universities should be repealed, as Erdogan's ruling AKP Party has proposed. Günter Seufert reports from Istanbul
Turkey as a Laboratory of Islam?

Synthesis of Islamic Thought, Secularism, and Modernity

In June, the highest Islamic authority in Turkey caused surprise by announcing that it will define a new, modern Islam. At least as far as the subject of women is concerned, the Diyanet, the Directorate of Religious Affairs, wants to present a modern image. Volker S. Stahr reports
The Headscarf Debate in Turkey

A Political Issue Par Excellence

One of the biggest promises made by politicians of the current government was to lift the ban on headscarves at universities. Critics regard the attempt to lift the ban a fundamental threat to Turkey's secular state. Ömer Erzeren reports
Headscarf Dispute in Turkey

Veiled Debates

The dispute over the headscarf ban in Turkey is displacing more urgent discussions on present-day relations between state and religion. Both Islamist forces and the politically inflexible Kemalists who oppose headscarves benefit, writes Ömer Erzeren.
Kemalists versus Liberal Intellectuals in Turkey

Promoting the Kemalist Personality Cult and Keeping Rank

Against the backdrop of the recent demonstrations held "in defence of the secular republican order", Günter Seufert profiles the nationalist discourse in Turkey, which condemns everything that is not in line with Kemalist dogma
Nationalism over Reason

Turkey Fails Again on the Kurdish Issue

In response to the latest clashes between Kurds and police, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan poured oil on the fire when he gave security forces permission to act against Kurdish women and children. A commentary by Baha Güngör
Turkey's Kurdish Question

"More Democracy, More Citizens' Rights, More Prosperity"

The most recent bombings of PKK splinter groups seemed to suggest there is little hope of reconciling Turkey's Kurdish question. Minister President Erdogan, however, seems to be determined to initiate a policy of rapprochement. Ömer Erzeren reports
Turkey

Kurdish Issue Unresolved

Following a trip to Turkey, an international delegation of lawyers has deemed the country unfit to join the EU. With regard to the Kurdish issue, it concluded that the improvements were merely theoretical.
Turkey

The Long March

Although the human rights reforms are being implemented only slowly in the institutions of state, the political conditions have not been so favourable since the military coup in 1980.